Barnet is the worst - 33 years to house everyone on its list. My mum lives in Barnet, its where I grew up. Well , thats what they get for selling off all their housing stock as fast as they could. I know this will offend some people and i apologise in advance, but i really oppose the sale of council houses. I just think its wrong.

Appalling

Its the same here in Scotlland as well as the houses they do want to put you are dire like mould and damp in them and when you complain they couldnt care less. Or the money they have to spend keeping you in a B&B is stupid really as they would be better of in the long run buildling again.

I opposed the selling of the council house too as the council didnt build more did they.

My home town is empty of council properties as they have knocked down most of the houses and flats there now. The land then was bought by private delevopers and no one could afford the houses or apartments (flats really) they built and the council lied as they told the ones that got moved they where building again and they would get to come back. Hogwash it was as loads where moved away from the area they had lived in all their lives as well.

In N.Ireland we dont have different councils we only have the housing executive who both myself and OH work for, to be honest our standard of houses are better than privately new built houses, we were going to buy some off private developers but they didn't meet our standards. we no longer build but we do pay or housing associations to build them, while we own the land they are considered managers. Im a housing officer and our process is totally different to the english one, from day one when someone presents as homeless we have sole responsibility for that applicant, I do the assessment, the temporary accommodation, housing benefit and visits, then eventually rehousing and resettling. I see some families are still on our housing list for years and tbh it wouldn't be the first time that ive been honest in telling them they'll never be rehoused in this lifetime, and have helped them secure private accommodation. we've now passed a law that out of all new builds 25% must go to social sector

I have tried to get OH's council to buy his house (he bought it privately but it used to be council) and they are 'looking into it' - does anyone know anything about council's BUYING more houses?

our's recently sold a group of flats, however the builder had to a) build houses for the HA, build houses for first time buyers on a share basis (if the buyer wants to)

Oh that's such a long time... I'm so ;lucky to have my flat...

I too am against the selling of Council houses. On the estate where I grew up, and where my mum still lives, there are hardly any Council owned properties left - they have all been sold, but the Council haven't built anymore. My mum's is the only Council owned house on her street!

Trish

Our council sold off it's housing stock many years ago to a housing association..there's few houses available,there's not enough being built...at least the houses cannot be bought any longer as so much of the housing were bought.
There is no longer a waiting list and it's been replaced by a very unfair system I believe..you need to look in local press or the website to see which houses are available then you have to put in a "bid" no money involved but someone decides who is is gonna get it and often or not it's got nowt to do with how great the families' need are!..often the decision beggars belief!!!
Cat x